tissue
Americannoun
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tissues
plural
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Biology. an aggregate of similar cells and cell products forming a definite kind of structural material with a specific function, in a multicellular organism.
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any of several kinds of soft gauzy papers used for various purposes.
cleansing tissue; toilet tissue.
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an interwoven or interconnected series or mass.
a tissue of falsehoods.
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a piece of thin writing paper on which carbon copies are made.
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a woven fabric, especially one of light or gauzy texture, originally woven with gold or silver.
a blouse of a delicate tissue.
verb (used with object)
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to remove (a cosmetic or cream) with a facial tissue (often followed byoff ).
Tissue all cosmetics off the face before going to bed.
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to weave, especially with threads of gold and silver.
noun
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a part of an organism consisting of a large number of cells having a similar structure and function
connective tissue
nerve tissue
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a thin piece of soft absorbent paper, usually of two or more layers, used as a disposable handkerchief, towel, etc
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See tissue paper
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an interwoven series
a tissue of lies
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a woven cloth, esp of a light gauzy nature, originally interwoven with threads of gold or silver
verb
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rare to weave into tissue
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to decorate or clothe with tissue or tissue paper
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of tissue
1325–75; Middle English tissew, variant of tissu < Middle French, Old French, noun use of past participle of tistre to weave < Latin texere
Explanation
Tissue is part of the body of a living thing that is made of similar cells, like the cardiac tissue of your heart. A tissue is also a soft, thin piece of paper used for wiping noses and tear drops. The noun tissue comes from the Old French word tissu, meaning “a ribbon, or belt of woven material.” In fact, as a verb, tissue means "weave fabric strands." Today, we think of tissues as the disposable paper for blowing our noses or packing presents. A different kind of tissue is found in the body — the groups of cells that have the same job, like scar tissue that protects a wound as it heals.
Vocabulary lists containing tissue
Cell Biology - Middle School
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Cell Biology - High School
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Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Quitterer's team found unusually large amounts of the inactive form in brain tissue from people with dementia.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
There are fewer data points, including case records, tissue samples and images, for rare diseases than more common conditions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Mumps can cause deafness and inflame the brain, pancreas, testicles, ovaries and breast tissue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
They occur naturally in the body, helping dictate processes such as repairing tissue.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Robin sealed up the wedge-shaped section to be sent back to the lab along with tissue samples, fish bone fragments, and a suspected tapeworm.
From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen
So light up that candle, lock the doors and bring the tissues if you have to — just don’t be ashamed to feel all the feels, or shake your booty if the mood strikes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
Kimberly-Clark, which makes Kleenex tissues and Cottonelle toilet paper, agreed to buy Kenvue in November in a more than $40 billion deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
They also hope it will provide insight into cancer biology in tissues that are more vulnerable to the disease.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026
Court staff escorted them in with boxes of tissues, paper cups of water and a kind hand on their arms.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Mac led the way back to the kitchen and found some tissues so Alex could blow his nose.
From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers
The thoughts we think may be lasting, too, Though not inscribed on the azure blue; On the tissued walls of the soul's great dome, May be found those thoughts ne'er more to roam.
From Gleams of Sunshine Optimistic Poems by Joseph Horatio Chant
I consider the following lines as strictly copied by Thomas Warton: The daring artist Explored the pangs that rend the royal breast, Those wounds that lurk beneath the tissued vest.
From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 2 by Isaac Disraeli
And the Chamberlain and the high officers of State came in and made obeisance to him, and the pages brought him the robe of tissued gold, and set the crown and the sceptre before him.
From A House of Pomegranates by Oscar Wilde
“Her Maiestie doth straightly charge and command— “That none under the degree of a Countess wear: Cloth of gold or silver tissued; Silke of coulor purple.
From The Art of Needle-work, from the Earliest Ages, 3rd ed. Including Some Notices of the Ancient Historical Tapestries by Sutherland Menzies
The higher guests approach a room of state, Where tissued couches all around were set Labour’d with art; o’er ivory tables thrown, Embroider’d carpets fell in folds adown.
From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Isaac Disraeli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
